Heidfeld's 'explosive' retirement

Sunday 31st July 2011

Heidfeld's 'explosive' retirement

Heidfeld's 'explosive' retirement

Nick Heidfeld jumped out of his burning Renault just in time in Hungary as the car exploded moments later, injuring a marshal.

Heidfeld was in the midst of a disappointing Sunday afternoon, lapping outside the points, when he came in for his second pit stop to change tyres.

However, as he left the pits, there was smoke coming from the left side of his R31.

With it soon becoming apparent that the smoke was caused by a fire - and not a small one - Heidfeld parked his car on the side of the track just outside the pits and jumped out as quickly as possible.

Marshals arrived at the scene with a fire extinguisher to put the flames out, however, one of them was injured when the left side of the car seemed to explode.

"The pit stop took longer than it should have which is why something must have overheated," Heidfeld explained to the BBC.

"My first thought when I saw a little bit of smoke was 'let's go, maybe the wind will put it out' as that's what has happened before.

"This time the smoke kept coming and then I saw the fire coming quite close so I jumped out.

"Afterwards there was a small explosion which I've not seen before on an F1 car."

Renault have yet to confirm the cause of the fire or the explosion while we are still awaiting word on the marshal, who was seen limping away from the scene.

Related Links
Race: Button Marks 200th With A Win

User comments

    Loading

      Post a comment

      Glitz, Glamour, Monaco!

      Editor's Picks

      NTF1N: Dieter's Lottery

      NTF1N: Dieter's Lottery

      Red Bull Racing boss Dieter Mateschitz reckons that F1 this season is like watching a load of lottery balls come up...

      Team-Mate Wars: Spain

      Team-Mate Wars: Spain

      Fernando's continuing whitewash is beginning to cause concern at Maranello, while Lewis has banished his own tyre demons...

      PF1 Forum: Chatting Away

      PF1 Forum: Chatting Away

      Pastor Maldonado for the World title? Lewis Hamilton to Williams in 2012? And everyone reckons they can win. All these and more...

      Conclusions From Spain

      Conclusions From Spain

      It's a season where nothing lasts forever as highlighted by Pastor becoming the fifth different driver to claim a race win...

      Fantasy League: Game On

      Fantasy League: Game On

      Think you'd be a better team boss than PlanetF1? Join Our Friends & Enemy League on the PlanetF1 Fantasy League...